Welder&#39;s light guard



April 1957 c. R. THATCHER 2,789,208

WELDERS LIGHT GUARD Filed Aug. 2, 1955 I. R. 8 m 3. w v. M .NJL a E a nwh M m .IT R h. i 0 W 2 2 70 WWJMWIIHIIMWM. 2m 2 Y 6 5 Fl nk? 2..

United States Patent T WELDERS LIGHT GUARD Chester R. Thatcher,Farmington, N. Mex.

Application August 2, 1955, Serial No. 525,888

2 Claims. (Cl. 24054) This invention relates to a light, and moreparticularly to a guard for a light or incandescent bulb.

The object of the invention is to provide a guard which will prevent abulb from becoming damaged, as when the bulb or light is being used byworkmen such as welders.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guard for a light bulbwhereby the light bulb can be used to illuminate areas which are usuallyinaccessible, and where by the guard is provided with a means fordissipating heat generated by the light bulb, there being a door orclosure member hingedly connected -to the guard so that access can begained to the interior of the housing as when the bulb is to be replacedor changed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a light guard which isextremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure l is a front elevational View of the light guard, constructedaccording to the present invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view taken at right angles to the view shownin Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 18 designates a hollowhousing which can be made of any suitable material such as metal, andsecured to an end of the housing is a curved end member 11 which has ahook 12 extending therefrom whereby the light guard can be suspendedfrom a suitable object.

There is further provided a body member 14 which includes afrustro-conical section 15 that terminates on one end in an annularflange 16 which is secured Within an end of the housing 10. The bodymember 14 further includes an annular flange 17 which is of smallerdiameter than the flange 16. The flange 17 surrounds a fitting or socket18 which has a light bulb 19 arranged in engagement therewith, and thefitting 18 is adapted to be con nected to a suitable source ofelectrical energy by means of wires or the like. Switches 20 may beprovided for controlling actuation of the light bulb 19.

The light guard of the present invention is provided with a means fordissipating heat generated by the bulb 19, and this means comprises aplurality of struckout portions 21 which define vent openings, and theseopenings are covered by screen or reticulated material 22. Thus, thescreens 22 prevent any foreign matter such as sparks generated bywelding apparatus, from accidentally entering the housing 10 andbreaking the light bulb 19.

There is further provided a door 23 which is hingedly connected to thehousing 10 by means of hinges 24. A

2,789,208 Patented Apr. 16, 1957 latch 25 is provided for retaining thedoor 23 in its locked or closed position.

Mounted in the door 23 is a framework 26 which has openings over whichextend transparent windows 27, Figure 3. Spring members 28 are providedfor retaining the glass windows 27 in their proper position in theframework 26 of the door 23. Guard rails 29 may extend over the outersurface of the windows 27 so as to prevent the Windows 27 from becomingaccidentally broken or damaged. There is further provided a clamp 30which serves to maintain the flange 17 mounted on the socket 18.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a lightguard which is especially suitable for use by workmen such as personsdoing welding. In use, the guard may be suspended from a suitablearticle by means of the book 12. A suitable wire or wires can lead fromthe fitting 18 to a source of electrical energy so as to illuminate orenergize the bulb 19. The light rays from the bulb 19 will emanatethrough the transparent windows 27 so that the workman can readily seeeven in ordinarily inaccessible or dark locations. The rails or bars 29help protect the windows 27, but in the event that any of the Windows 27become broken, the spring members 28 can be disengaged so as to permitreplacement of the windows 27. The door23 is maintained closed by meansof the latch 25, and the door 23 can be swung open on the hinges 24 whenthe bulb 19 is to be removed or replaced. The vents 21 serve todissipate the heat generated by the bulb 19, and the screens 22 preventsparks or the like generated by welders equipment from accidentallydamaging the bulb 19.

With the present invention, breakage of the bulb 19 will be eliminatedor minimized, and the housing can be made of strong lightweightmaterial. The door 23 has overlapping end portions 31 and 32 which helpreinforce the parts and provide a better seal. If desired, the windows27 may be made of a suitable plastic or spark resistant material whichcan be wiped oil when they become dirty.

I claim:

1. In a light guard, a hollow housing, a curved end member secured to anend of said housing, a hook extending from said end member, a bodymember arranged contiguous to the other end of said housing andincluding a circular flange secured to said housing, said body memberfurther including a frustro-conical section and a second flange smallerin diameter than said first named flange, a socket mounted in saidsecond flange, a light bulb arranged in engagement with said socket, aclamp arranged in engagement with said second flange, a door hingedlyconnected to said housing, a latch for maintaining said door in closedposition, said door including transparent windows, spring clips forretaining said windows in said door, guard bars arranged across saidwindows, said body member and end member being provided with a pluralityof struckout portions defining vent openings, and screens extendingacross said vent openings.

2. A light guard comprising a hollow housing, a curved end membersecured to an end of said housing, a hook extending from said endmember, a body member arranged contiguous to the other end of saidhousing and including a circular flange secured to said housing, saidbody member further including a frustro-conical section and a secondflange smaller in diameter than said first named flange, a socketmounted in said second flange, a light bulb arranged in engagement withsaid socket and adapted to be connected to a source of electricalenergy, a clamp arranged in engagement with said second flange formaintaining said second flange in engagement with said socket, a doorhingedly connected to said housing, said door having overlapping endportions to help reinforce the parts and provide a better seal, a latchfor maintaining said door in closed position, said door includingtransparent windows, spring clips for retaining said Windows in saiddoor, whereby in the event any of the windows become broken, the springclips can be disengaged so as to permit 7 7 replacement of the windows,guard bars arranged across References Cited in the file of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS White et a1 May 16, 1916 Englund et al. Oct. 7,1919 Finkbeiner Sept. 3, 1929 Benander Sept. 11, 1951 Becker Aug. 30,1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Mar. '19, 1914

